August 6-7, 2018; The Seelbach Hilton Louisville – Louisville, Kentucky

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) held a Practitioner Awareness Conference (PDAC) on August 6 & 7, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. This was a one-day conference, repeated on the second day, for the convenience of the practitioner community. The conference was developed and designed to address the growing problem of diversion of pharmaceutical controlled substances throughout the United States. In addition to pharmacy robberies and thefts, pharmaceutical controlled substances are often diverted by way of forged prescriptions, doctor shoppers, or illegitimate prescriptions from rogue practitioners. The objective of this conference was to educate healthcare professionals on ways to address and respond to potential diversion activity.

Over 447 doctors, veterinarians, dentists, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. The conference attendees received approximately seven hours of instruction on a variety of topics. The presentations included; The Opioid Epidemic and the Practice of Legitimate Medicine, Drugs of Abuse and Trends, Methods of Diversion and Effective Controls for Controlled Substances, Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs, Prescriptions for Controlled Substances, Methods of Diversion and Effective Controls for Controlled Substances, State Medical Board, Inventories, Records, and Reports, Registration Issues, Disposal, Return of Patient Meds, and Options for Patients, Telemedicine, and Training & Resources.

Selected presentations from the Louisville, Kentucky PDAC are below.

The Opioid Epidemic and the Practice of Legitimate Medicine – James A. Arnold, Chief, Liaison and Policy Section, Diversion Control Division, DEA

Drugs of Abuse and Trends – Scott A. Brinks, Unit Chief, Liaison and Policy Section, Diversion Control Division, DEA

Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) – Jill E. Lee, R.Ph., Investigator/Pharmacist Consultant Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting (KASPER)

Prescriptions for Controlled Substances – Loren T. Miller, Associate Chief, Liaison and Policy Section, Diversion Control Division, DEA

Methods of Diversion and Effective Controls for Controlled Substances – Scott A. Brinks, Unit Chief, Liaison and Policy Section, Diversion Control Division, DEA

State Medical Board – Michael S. Rodman, Executive Director, Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure

Inventories, Records, and Reports – Lynnette M. Wingert, Unit Chief, Liaison and Policy Section, Diversion Control Division, DEA

Registration Issues – Loren T. Miller, Associate Chief, Liaison and Policy Section, Diversion Control Division, DEA

Disposal, Return of Patient Meds, and Options for Patients – Kathy L. Federico, Staff Coordinator, Liaison and Policy Section, Diversion Control Division, DEA

Telemedicine – James A. Arnold, Chief, Liaison and Policy Section, Diversion Control Division, DEA

Training & Resources – Kathy L. Federico, Staff Coordinator, Liaison and Policy Section, Diversion Control Division, DEA